Unit 8 – using statistics in science
D3 - Evaluate the validity of the interpretation of the results of the t-test
The findings from the results support the hypothesis made before the experiment was
carried out. This was supported as the cress seeds placed on top of the soil grew taller than those
placed on top of damp tissue. Cress is a plant that contains a small supply of nutrients and can grow
with or without soil. Water and sunlight are the sources of energy it needs and as long as it has these
and somewhere it can bury its roots then the cress will grow. On average the soil placed on the cress
grew 9.78mm whereas the cress placed on top of the tissue grew an average of 6.96mm. These
results therefore show us that the hypothesis was supported. The reason this hypothesis was made
before the experiment was carried out was due to the fact that soil has nutrients plants need for
them to grow. Even though cress doesn’t necessarily need these nutrients they do help with the
growth process.
When it comes to errors within the experiment, there are a few that could have altered the
results. One of these being human error. When dampening the soil and tissue after placing the seeds
on top there could have been a possibility that either too much or not enough water was applied to
the petri dishes. And if this was the case, the cress seeds could have been over watered or not
received enough water giving us cress that is smaller than what should have been achieved. A way
this can be minimised is by observing the base and making sure the entire surface is fully damp, but
not drowned in water. Another human error that could have occurred was the measuring of the
cress. Cress grows however it wants and is therefore not pin straight, however the cress plant is
delicate and can break easily when pulled too tight. So, when measuring the cress, it had to be
straightened out to measure it as accurately as possible, but in order to not break the plant, it wasn’t
measured straight and a few millimetres could have been missed off due to this. So, in order to
minimise this and increase the accuracy of results, the cress plant could be straightened out as much
as possible with the help of others to ensure ever millimetre is being measured.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Thank you for previewing the example, feel free to buy the singular task, or the Unit 8 bundle xxx
D3 - Evaluate the validity of the interpretation of the results of the t-test
The findings from the results support the hypothesis made before the experiment was
carried out. This was supported as the cress seeds placed on top of the soil grew taller than those
placed on top of damp tissue. Cress is a plant that contains a small supply of nutrients and can grow
with or without soil. Water and sunlight are the sources of energy it needs and as long as it has these
and somewhere it can bury its roots then the cress will grow. On average the soil placed on the cress
grew 9.78mm whereas the cress placed on top of the tissue grew an average of 6.96mm. These
results therefore show us that the hypothesis was supported. The reason this hypothesis was made
before the experiment was carried out was due to the fact that soil has nutrients plants need for
them to grow. Even though cress doesn’t necessarily need these nutrients they do help with the
growth process.
When it comes to errors within the experiment, there are a few that could have altered the
results. One of these being human error. When dampening the soil and tissue after placing the seeds
on top there could have been a possibility that either too much or not enough water was applied to
the petri dishes. And if this was the case, the cress seeds could have been over watered or not
received enough water giving us cress that is smaller than what should have been achieved. A way
this can be minimised is by observing the base and making sure the entire surface is fully damp, but
not drowned in water. Another human error that could have occurred was the measuring of the
cress. Cress grows however it wants and is therefore not pin straight, however the cress plant is
delicate and can break easily when pulled too tight. So, when measuring the cress, it had to be
straightened out to measure it as accurately as possible, but in order to not break the plant, it wasn’t
measured straight and a few millimetres could have been missed off due to this. So, in order to
minimise this and increase the accuracy of results, the cress plant could be straightened out as much
as possible with the help of others to ensure ever millimetre is being measured.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Thank you for previewing the example, feel free to buy the singular task, or the Unit 8 bundle xxx
